Choose the Correct Present Tense to Complete the Sentence | Turtle ... - Free Printable

Let's solve each sentence by choosing the correct simple present tense form of the verb. Remember, the simple present tense is used for:

- Habits or routines
- General truths
- Scheduled events
- Facts

We will pick the correct verb form based on subject-verb agreement and the context.

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1. Kim ______ her hair in the morning.
(braided, braids)
→ "Kim" is third person singular, so we use braids.
✔ braids

2. The tree ______ in the wind.
(will sway, sways)
→ This describes a general truth or habitual action. "Will sway" is future tense. We need present.
✔ sways

3. Paul ______ off the light.
(turns, turn)
→ Paul is third person singular → turns
✔ turns

4. I ______ that show.
(watches, watch)
→ "I" takes base form → watch
✔ watch

5. We ______ to the beach.
(travel, travels)
→ "We" is plural → travel
✔ travel

6. She always ______.
(yell, yells)
→ "She" is third person singular → yells
✔ yells

7. Matt ______ me a question.
(asks, asked)
→ Present tense needed; "Matt" is third person singular → asks
✔ asks

8. The door ______.
(closes, closing)
→ "Closes" is the present tense verb. "Closing" is a present participle (used in progressive tenses).
✔ closes

9. She ______ at the joke.
(laughs, laughed)
→ Present tense for a habitual reaction or general truth → laughs
✔ laughs

10. I ______ in the haunted house.
(scream, screams)
→ "I" uses base form → scream
✔ scream

11. The air ______ fresh.
(smells, smell)
→ "The air" is third person singular → smells
✔ smells

12. Brian ______ off the bench.
(jumps, jumped)
→ Simple present for habitual or general action → jumps
✔ jumps

13. Gabriel ______ on the radio.
(turned, turns)
→ Present tense needed → turns
✔ turns

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✔ Final Answers:

1. braids
2. sways
3. turns
4. watch
5. travel
6. yells
7. asks
8. closes
9. laughs
10. scream
11. smells
12. jumps
13. turns

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🔍 Explanation Summary:

- Use base form of the verb with I, you, we, they.
- Use -s/-es ending with he, she, it.
- Avoid past tense (e.g., "asked", "jumped") unless specified.
- Avoid -ing forms unless in continuous tenses (not required here).
- The context (habitual actions, general truths) supports present tense.

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